G'day All,
Over these last weeks of summer I have had the opportunity to explore
native grassland plains remnants (mostly by night), and the wetlands of Nth
Victoria. The grasslands appear to be so lifeless and barren during the
shimmering heat of the day, yet to walk over them in the relative cool of
the summer's night with a spotlight, reveals a wonder world of almost
teeming life. The swamps and lakes are drying out quickly, some are only
just mudflats at present, but the diversity of birdlife is at times
astounding.
The native grassland remnant areas have been on the Patho Plains (Glassons
and Terrick Terrick) and Glassons, and the Avoca Plains (Korrak Korrak and
Williamsons). The wetlands have included Richardson's Lagoon, Murphys Swamp,
Johnsons Swamp, Gunbower Creek, Pyramid Creek and Lake Murphy.
While there have been some very hot days, the birdlife (and wildlife
generally) has been well worth the search and suffering the heat.
Among the plainslands (with the occasional patch of woodland thrown in)
birds seen at night have been Stubble Quail (breeding), Little Button-quail
(over 50 in a small paddock, with about 25+ being a third to half grown
young, Plains-wanderer, Banded Lapwing, Singing Bushlark, Brown Songlark,
Richard's Pipit, Sky Lark - all seen up close as they crouch on the ground
in the spotlight. Others seen flying around in the night were several Barn
Owls. During the day some of these species were also seen including Orange
Chats.
In one area we also enjoyed the privilege of finding only the third known
site for the critically endangered in Victoria, the 'legless lizard' - the
Hooded Scaley-foot . We have found 7 individuals in different areas. There
were also a range of other reptiles such as Tessellated Gecko, Blind Snake,
Delma inornata (Olive Legless Lizard), Curl Snake & Southern Blind Snake.
The small, beautifully adapted little marsupial, the Fat-tailed Dunnart,
with its young observable in its pouch, were also seen, as were a good
number of invertebrates, among them such interesting animals being the
Grassland Froghopper.
Other birds of the grasslands seen during the day were a range of raptors,
including Black-shouldered Kite, Spotted Harrier, Wedge-tailed Eagle, Black
Falcon, Peregrine Falcon & Nankeen Kestrel. Among the adjoining remnant
woodlands (mainly Black Box) were Owlet-nightjar, Brown Treecreeper,
Variegated Fairy-wren, White-winged Fairy-wren, White-browed Babbler,
breeding Hooded Robin, White-breasted, Black-faced, White-browed and Dusky
Woodswallows, (several of these species were breeding), Southern Whiteface,
Grey-crowned Babbler, Bush Stone-curlew & Pied Butcherbird.
A range of more common birds included Zebra Finch, Singing Honeyeater,
White-fronted Chat, Australian Magpie etc.
Earlier in summer an Inland Dotterel and a Red-chested Button-quail were
also reliably reported in the area.
The wetlands have been even more productive of birdlife. There have been
thousands of waders in mid to late summer, mainly Sharp-tailed Sandpipers,
but with a sprinkling of Curlew, and Red-necked Stints among them. There
have been good numbers of Marsh Sandpipers, Common Greenshank, Red-necked
Avocet and Black-winged Stilts. At one place over a dozen Latham's Snipe
were flushed in one flock. Among the more rare waders have been up to nine
Wood Sandpipers, a Reeve, Golden Plover & Long-toed Stints. There have been
also large numbers of the more common waders such as Red-capped Plover and
Red-kneed and Black-fronted Dotterels.
Just about every type of duck found in the south can be seen in the area at
present, including Blue-billed, Musk, Freckled, Australian Shelduck,
Australian Wood, Pink-eared & Pacific Black Ducks, Australasian Shoveler,
Grey & Chestnut Teal & Hardhead. Among the grebes, Australasian,
Hoary-headed and Great-crested can be seen. Small flocks of Glossy Ibis have
been feeding in the shallows too. The Spotted and Spotless Crakes have been
relatively easy to sight. There have been good numbers of more ordinary
water birds in the area including Brolga, Black-tailed Native-hen,
White-faced & Necked Heron, Great & Intermediate Egrets, Yellow-billed &
Royal Spoonbills, various of the Cormorants, Swamp Harrier etc.
White-breasted Sea-Eagles nested this year at Hird Swamp, and mum and dad
and two of the kids are now living at Johnsons Swamp since Hirds has gone
dry. Some Brown Quail are often seen around the swamps too.
Probably the best spot up this way at present for water birds is 'Big' Lake
Murphy. It is alive with waders and a good range of water birds.
There has been no sign of the Painted Snipe in this area this past
spring/summer, though it is good to know they have turned up over
Rutherglen/Chilton way.
Looking forward to a good autumn of birding now.
Regards,
Chris Coleborn,
--------------------------------------------
Birding-Aus is on the Web at
www.birding-aus.org
birding-aus.blogspot.com
--------------------------------------------
To unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message:
'unsubscribe birding-aus' (no quotes, no Subject line)
to
|
